Chaelbs neil



(ModeL) v 0. NEIL. Heel for Boots and Shoes. No. 239,186. Patented March 22,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES NEIL, OF SHEFFIELD, COUNTY OF YORK, ENGLAND.

HEEL FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,186, dated March 22, 1881. Application filed August 9, 1880. (ModeL) Patented in England March 24, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES NEIL, of Sheffield, in the county of York, England, have invented an Improvement in Metal Heels for Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

Metal heels have been made of a disk or band, and secured. to the leather or rubber heel of the boot or shoe by screws or nails.

My invention consists in a contractile bandheel-of spring-steel or similar metal that is self-clampin g upon the heel of leather, wood, or other material, so that it does not require the use of screws or nails, and, when circular, can be turned around into any desired position to render the wear uniform or the metal band can be removed and another substituted.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a circular heel-band. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan, and Fig. 4. a side view, of a heel-band with one straight side. Fig. 5 is a section of the heel with the metal band upon it. Fig. 6 represents a shoe with the heel ready to receive the band. Fig. 7 is a similar view with the metal band in place. Fig. 8 is a side View of the spanner for turning the heel, and Fig. 9 is a heel-band with a roughened lower edge.

The band a, instead of being a closed ring, as heretofore used, is made with an opening at b, so as to form it into an expansible clamp that is easily sprung upon the heel, and grasps the same with the force required for retaining it firmly around the leather or other heel, there being a shoulder at c for the upper end of the expansible band to rest against.

I prefer to make use of a tempered-steel band, and when it is circular, as seen in Fig.

1, it may be turned around from time to time to render the wear upon the lower edge uniform.

The spannerf, Fig. 8, has a projection, that enters the opening I), and provides for the heel being turned thereby when desired.

If myimprovement is to be applied to a heel of ordinary shape, then the opening I) is, by preference, at the middle of the flat forward portion. as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.. g

This heel-band can be removed at any time, when it is desired to wear the shoes without metal heels, or-replaced with a new one, or one band may be changed for another, according to the convenience of the wearer; and I remark that,when desired,this band may have a roughened lower surface, or teeth may be formed thereon of whatever length or shape may be best adapted to the person wearing the boots or shoes. 1

I am aware that heel attachments haveheen made of a metal band connected by a clam ping-screw. My band is made of one piece of metal of sufficient strength to contract upon the heel after being sprung upon the same and hold itself firmly in place without the aidof clamping-screws.

I claim as my invention The heel-band for boots or shoes, made of spring metal, and having an opening between the ends at b, and adapted to be sprung upon the heel of the boot or shoe and retained by the contractile action of the spring-band, sub

stantially as set forth.

CHARLES NEIL. Witnesses:

Enwn. DODGSON, Jr., ARTHUR BELL. 

